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But what if carpal tunnel isn’t just in the wrist? What if, instead of being a problem of the wrist, it was a problem of the median nerve? At various places in the neck, shoulder, arm, and forearm?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is nerve pain

Nerve pain in the arm is often a common symptom of people with neck problems. Neck problems like:

disc degeneration,

loss of cervical curve,

arthritis, and

chiropractic subluxations of the neck

That is because the nerves of the arm all start their journey by leaving from the the neck.

Nerves of the arm and hands start as roots in the neck and shoulder.

They come together in branches from the middle and lower parts of the neck. They travel below the shoulder joint, joining together to form the brachial plexus. Depending on which branch of the brachial plexus is irritated or compressed, medicine has several different names of conditions.

For example, the median nerve can be irritated in the elbow. In the elbow it causes Pronater Teres syndrome. If it is irritated at the forearm, it is called Anterior Interossseous Syndrome.

Double crush syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome

Which means any irritation in the neck is more likely to show up as irritation and symptoms down stream.

This theory is called the double crush theory. And while it still needs more research, it can explain why patients who appear to have more than one irritation to the nerves of their arm don’t always respond well to carpal tunnel surgery.

If the carpal tunnel symptoms are partially coming from the patient’s neck or shoulder, then surgery on the wrist is not going to solve irritation in the neck or the shoulder.

Does that make sense?

So, how do you know if irritation above your wrist is contributing or even causing your carpal tunnel syndrome.

A great choice is to talk to the people that can gently address the problem joint alignment that is responsible for this irritation!

Dr. Zachary Ward first discovered the power of spinal care after watching his little brother heal from debilitating pain. Now he practices a unique form of chiropractic care that offers you the opportunity to experience your body in a new, freer way. Contact him via social media or via the contact form to request a ten minute health review. He also blogs at DrZWard.com.

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